Bead for pneumatic tires and reenforcement therefor



Dec. 14, 1926. 1

A. c. HOPKINS BEAD FOR PNEUMATIC TIRES AND REE'NFORCEMENT THEREFOR Filed March 26, 1925 .reenforcing strip which is substantially non- I ventionall Patented Dec. 14, 1926.

UNITED STATES.

ARTHUR c. norxr ns, or arms, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO ma'r'ronar. STANDARD PATENTtOFFl CE.

v COMI'ANY, 'OF NILES, MICHIGAN.

I'BEAD, run rrmuma'rrc 'lIR-ES AND annnroncnmnnr THEREFOR.

Application filed March--56, 1925. Serial n. 13.453.

This invention relates'toimprovements inv beads 'for pneumatic tires and reenforcements therefor. v I

The main objects of the invention are:

First, to provide an improved 'reenforced bead for pneumatic tires which is very strong. 1

Second, to provide an improved tire bead reenforcement which may be rapidly manufactured and is substantially non-stretch able. 1' I Third, to provide an improved tire .bead

stretchable and at the same time may be conformed orfolded longitudinally'of the strip 'without placing stress upon thestrands.

Objects pertaining to details and econo= mies of my'improvementswill appear from the detailed description to follow. i

I accomplish the objects of my invention bythe devices and means described in the following specification. The invention s clearly defined'and pointed out in the claims.

A structure embodying thefeatures of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawingforming a part ofthis application, in which;

Fig.1 is a sectional perspective viewof a tire embodying the features of my invention, parts being shown mainly in conventional form for convenience in illustration.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a tire bead embodying the features ofmy invention, alternate strands being shown in blackfor convenience in illustration.

Fig. 3 is a rspective view of my im-- proved tire bea reenforci-ng strip, alternate strands being shown'in black for convenience in illustration.'

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a tire bead illustrating another 'embodiment of my invention.

In the' drawings, similar numerals of reference refer to similar parts in all of the views.

In Fig. 1 the tire casing 1 is shown conand is adapted to receive the usual bea 2 which'is formed of a suitable rubber composition, the bead being of a cross-section corresponding to the the in which it is desired to use the same. Embedded in this composition is my improved tire bead reenforcement' formed of strands of wire, which for convenience illustration tend to stretch are'shown in Figs. 2 and with-alternate.

white and black strands 3 and 4. Itwill be understood that-these strands are of the" same material and the coloring is used mere- 1y for the purpose of"illustrating. the-braiding of the strands together.v

The strands '3 and-4am braided together with the several strands alternately and sue cess'ively looped back and forth over the adjacent strands, that is, the strands at each side thereof, as is clearlyshown in'Figs. 2

and 3. The eo-engaginglo'ops 5 of the strands have relatively long reaches 6, the

reaches ofco-engaging loops'l ing in super- .imposed crossed cont-actingfre ation and the bights of the. co-enga"ng loops being disposed in transverse ali nement and in edge to edgecontact. This 'results in'a braid or strip which is substan-tially non-extensible bot-h longitudinally and-iitransversely, the bights and reaches of the loops being'm contact so I that the relative position of the strands does not materially change, when the elementis subjected to longitudinal stresses, at the'same time the element is very flexible and may be rolled longitudinally upon itself asdesired without placin undue stress upon any particular; strand.

an effective bonding'is secured with a rubberv composition and inasmuch as the size and at their crossing'points and the tendency ofthe strands is to maintain this contact, the

braid is non-stretchable longitudinally, as

to stretch it would necessitate contracting transversel ,and it is normally contracted substantial y to the limit in this respect.

The strip is also substantially non-stretchable transversel for the reason that all the wires being un eruniform stress as woven or braided together and being in contact at their crossin points, stresses. which would the strip transversely are distributed throughout andwould necessitate shortening of the strip, all the strands acting to resist transverse expansion or widening of the strip. a

I am aware of the practice of forming reenforce in which the strands of wire are braided together with the wire extendin from edge to edge of the strip, but sue urther,-interst1ces are provided of relatively large size so I that strips orbraids are transversely extensible unless the ends of the strands are positively gripped or held. My,reenforcing strip is substantially non-extensible laterally or transversely of the strip and at the same time can be transversely conformed as shown in Fi 4, where it is adapted to a narrow bead esign, for use in certain types of tires,' the two upper strips being transversely folded and the top' strip' 7 eing substantially in the form of a roll. In ractice the reenforcingelement is convolute y disposed in the bead, two wraps only being shown in Fig. 2 while three are shown in Fig. 4.-

My improved reenforcin element has the advantage oi. being capab e of very rapid production; that is, the machines may be operated at 'high spee'd without injury to the product. I have illustrated my improvements mainly in conventional formbut. it is believed with suflicient detail to enabletho'se skilled in'the art to embody and adapt my 'imlplrovements as ma be. desired.

aving thus described myinvention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let tors Patent is 1. An element of the class described com.-

prisingI a (plurality' of strands .of resilient rai wire ed together with the several strands alternately and successively looped back and forth with adjacent strands, the

reaches of the loops being relatively long, the reaches of corresponding 100 5 being disposed in crossed contacting re ation so that each strand has direct looped bonding engagement with the strands atthe sides thereof, the bights ofthe corres onding loops being alined and in edge to e ge contact whereby the element is substantially non-expansible laterally and longitudinally and is capable of being rolled longitudinally upon itself.

2. A tire bead reenforcing element comprising a pluralit of strands of resilient wire braided toget er with adjacent strands alternately and successively looped together with the corresponding reaches of their loops in crossed superimposed contacting relation and with t from edge to edge of the element, the resiliencyof the wire tending to maintain the parts in such contacting engagement.

eir bights contacting 3. A tire bead reenforcing element consisting of a plurality of strands of wire braided together with adjacent strands successively looped back and forth over the coacting strands at the sides thereof and with reaches of their loops disposed in superimposed crossed contacting relation and with their bights contacting providing interstices of relatively large and substantially fixedsize and shape.

pluralit of strands 'of'wire braided toget er wit the several strands alternately and successively looped back and 4. A tire bead reenforcing 'e'lement con- 1 sisting of a forth with adjacent strands and withl'the reaches of their loops in superimposed crossed contacting relation and with the bights of their loops in edge to edge contact-- 

